Living in Florida (for 16 years now…WOW! where did the time go?!) am accustomed to mostly sunny days and mild temperatures… oh, and hurricane season, prep, etc. Basically, I’ve turned into a winter-weather-wimp!;)

Winter has arrived! here and am very tired/exhausted, upset tummy, and generally feeling an over-all malaise (yesterday)… the Winter arrival corresponds with my brother’s departure back to Haiti… so, that could be some of it… the melancholia.

Plus, it’s not fun when your kid/s’ asthma is triggered by cold-er air. It’s very worrisome when your young one(s) has an asthma attack or

Time with family is precious!… (and IF everyone is in the same place at the same time and healthy at the same time; rare)…and don’t know, for sure, when i will see my brother again during 2018. Life in Haiti is not easy to say the least… and his and his wife’s compassion life-style is exemplary!

They have literally endangered their own personal comfort-zones of living, health, well-being, their literal lives for the greater good and to help countless people through the years! Though, all of us can live that kind of self-sacrificing-unselfish-love, compassion-first-responsibility…closer to home if need be, eh?

Helping does come with risk factors (and fractals;)… not reckless, just necessary.

Compared to other colder places, what we are experiencing here in FL is mild! (For us–it’s cold, rainy-raw.) My thoughts and prayers are with all who are Braving the Truly Extreme Cold Elsewhere!! Please stay healthy and warm!!:)

a childhood song…(which the concept always touched me deeply and made me cry like a little girl as a little girl & beyond;) and BTW: never, even as young kid, believed in a magic dragon, or a Santa Claus or an Easter Bunny; “fictional” characters) appropriate for today and came to me yesterday…”Puff the Magic Dragon” Peter, Paul, and Mary…

Journeys in life take us through immaturity to maturity, ups, downs (i.e. fighting melancholy mind-set(s)), all-arounds, and all kinds of weather, huh?!

Sometimes You Can’t Take the Journey For (or with) someone (no matter how much you love them!)

(wishing could fly to Haiti to help right now)

(wishing could breathe for my kid)

(wishing etc., etc.)

You may be able to assist, and encourage, support the process… indirectly/directly… or by proxy or prayers!

each morning, each day presents opportunities for (compassion, spiritual) growth… and for living justice.

{What i mean by justice… is involved/deep and don’t have time to elaborate at the moment… not talking revenge nor my own personal sense of stuff… nor talking reciprocity.

Justly interacting/communicating with fellow-fragile-life in an agape/non-selfish manner that displays appropriate compassion at the appropriate time, etc.}

{We all do our best with the “accurate” knowledge aka “real” faith we possess at this current moment in time… and when we learn or understand deeper or more deeply aka acquire more accurate information… well, we make necessary changes and update to more healthy decisions…what I’ve come learn about God’s Justice as revealed in the Holy writings/scriptures is… God doesn’t expect from any of us what we are incapable of doing.}

THANKS for reading reader:)… my big-mouth ramblings… feeling better now (and hope you do too… aka better for this post and not worse off aka hoping by sharing this is helping in some small way).

Thinking out loud: {Sometimes, i think: that’s my compassion work (parts of it)…observe, act: could involve: read & write…that’s my job/assignment: read you then “right” you…aka to me: bring out the good/best. You think you’re reading me…(but, do you even know/speak my language??) my code(s)? the code righters…write it!..on hearts by spirit…already embedded deep (agape love). (my long-term destiny is mercifully written.) i’m but a temporary worker here.”What would you do?” give up–NEVER! i know: me: when in doubt, i sit it out. (I’m standing–i’m not doubting.)}

Writing-Righting/Living out loud: This week i gave a brief “talk” in front of about 100+ people; i think. (My Hubby wasn’t there & this ticked me off!; (cause i was focused on myself: feeling nervous, etc.) He wasn’t feeling well & couldn’t make it; last minute.) Of course, He’s forgiven!:) My Sweet friend, A. (originally from India), helped me with it…a conversation on stage between two friends..my “timely” topic of conversation Thursday: based on a lot of readings and studies (andcondensed to 5 minutes 20 seconds -lol) about the following: “We do live in difficult times. From all parts of the earth, we hear a steady stream of bad news describing calamities and social unrest. Is there any special significance to the current world situation?”

The media/news outlets pick a part one story, one tragedy at a time…but, reflecting on the full scope of it all is important. (The bigger/fuller picture.) Looking at things from a higher vantage point…say through spiritual lenses could put things in “better” focus. You can peel an orange into pieces/into wedges and eat each wedge…individually…taken/consumed/eaten a wedge at a time…each wedge belongs to and still makes up the whole orange! Even juicing..it’s still ORANGE juice.

Here’s the talk/script/discussion i put together that we (sorta) followed…(A. did Awesome: i couldn’t have done it without her!) some excerpts: mind You, i’m mostly quoting/concisely stuff read…that’s not of my origination. (It’s not always an easy thing/task to express/convey spiritually/progressive stuff…to: Your friends, family, nor a huge/small audience.) I felt like it came across okay? since afterward–various ones approached me to commend and say they enjoyed the thought-provoking points:

J: Hi A…:) I’m so VERY Glad to See You! How have You been?

A: Okay, like everybody, I’ve been under some stress. Just trying to successfully cope.

J: We do live in difficult times. From all parts of the earth, we hear a steady stream of bad news describing calamities and social unrest. Is there any special significance to the current world situation?

A: I have wondered that Joanie. What does the Bible foretell about our day?

J: Excellent question A. Tragic things happen so suddenly and unexpectedly that no human can predict what tomorrow will bring. (Jehovah God knows what the future holds.) Some 2,000 years ago, the Bible foretold that the world’s troubles would climax in “the conclusion of the system of things.” (Matthew 24:3) This does not mean “the end of the world” as people fear it. Rather, the Bible describes a pattern of events and attitudes, or a sign, that would occur during a time period called “the last days.”

A: I am curious about this sign. What “specific” events did the Bible foretell?

J: Prophecy 1: we can read at Matthew 24:7 the first part of the verse. Would You read this please A?

A: “For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom.”

J: The Fulfillment of this first prophecy: In the early years of the 20th century, many were expecting continued peace. Yet, the start of World War I in 1914 shocked the world and began an era of unprecedented warfare. Between the end of the second world war and 2010, there were 246 armed conflicts in 151 locations worldwide.

Let’s read the 2nd prophecy…please read the next line of Matthew 24:7 .

A: “And there will be food shortages.”

J: The Fulfillment of this second prophecy: Famine caused more than 70 million deaths in the 20th century and continues to be a global problem.

What the evidence reveals:According to the United Nations, hunger is the world’s greatest health risk, and 1 in 7 people worldwide currently do not have enough to eat.

A: Yes, even here in the United States many go hungry.

J: Let’s turn to Luke 21:11 to read about Prophecies 3 & 4 and I’ll read this? Joan reads: “There will be great earthquakes, and in one place after another food shortages and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and from heaven great signs.” (then asks: A, what else did the Bible foretell would happen in the “last days”?)

A: “There will be great earthquakes.”

J: Yes, the evidence proves or reveals the fulfillment of this prophecy…did You know?…”Each year, from 1970 to 2001, there was an average of 19 earthquake disasters* reported, with an average death toll of 19,547. In the ten years before 2012, the average increased to 28 earthquake disasters per year, with an average death toll of 67,954.” (These earthquake statistics “shake” us!)

A: It does seem like we are constantly hearing about another earthquake somewhere in the world.

J: What other prophetic event #4…did we read about in Luke 21:11?

A: “In one place after another pestilences.” —Luke 21:11.

J: The evidence of fulfillment reveals “Despite medical advances, millions still die each year as a result of infectious diseases. International travel and the world’s growing urban population have increased the likelihood that disease outbreaks will spread rapidly.”

A: Ebola comes to mind immediately.

J: I read that The World Health Organization has warned of the rise of drug-resistant germs, saying: “The world is heading towards a post-antibiotic era, in which many common infections will no longer have a cure and, once again, [will] kill unabated.”

A: Joanie, did the bible foretell anything about how people act/attitudes?

A: “and because of the increasing of lawlessness, the love of the greater number will grow cold.”

J: “Hate-fueled genocide has claimed the lives of millions. In numerous countries, armed conflicts and crime have led to cycles of increasing fear and violence.” Reports reveal that “Each year, more than 740,000 people die as a result of crime and armed conflict.”

A: Wow, amazing how accurately the Bible foretold our day! What does this all mean joanie: will God soon intervene to help us survive these terrible times?

Plus, the fresh air and sunshine is my disinfectant/(healer) as well: recently read this in Awake! March 2015 excerpt: (my highlights)

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes that natural ventilation, which includes outside air flowing through a building, is important for infection control. Indeed, WHO guidelines published in 2009 encourage use of such natural ventilation as an effective measure in reducing the risk of infection at health-care facilities.

Studies conducted at a United Kingdom Ministry of Defence site provide some answers. Scientists there were trying to establish how long the air would remain dangerous if a biological weapon armed with harmful bacteria were exploded over London. To determine the viability of airborne pathogens, the researchers anchored E. coli microorganisms to threads of spider silk and exposed them to the open air. The experiment was performed at night, since it was known that sunlight kills these bacteria. What were the results?

Some two hours later, nearly all the bacteria were dead. Yet, when the bacteria were kept in a closed box in the same location and at the same temperature and humidity, most of them were still alive past the two-hour mark. Why? Evidently, something about being in the open air kills germs. This so-called open-air factor has not been clearly identified. However, researchers point to a compound that occurs naturally in open air and that “acts as a natural disinfectant against pathogens or germs that lurk in the atmosphere.”

My beloved/(country) grandma, resting in PEACE, Ella Mae Love-Wil—-, liked/sang this song & it (always) reminds me of Her (and Other Loved Ones! and my (long-gone) city youth and past New Hampshire Mountain family (camping) vacations)!

me: a simple mind needs “SALT” for preservation (and for other reasons)

PASS the SALT PLEASE!!:)

Salt means “TRUST” (among other valuable things) to me:

SALT has been described as being “born of the purest parents, the sun and the sea.” That is certainly true of salt produced by solar evaporation from seawater.

Although our bodies need very little of it, salt is essential to the life and health of both people and animals. We think of it perhaps as simply the white substance used to enhance the flavor of food. Yet, it serves many other useful purposes, such as in chemical, textile, and metallurgical industries. ~excerpted Born of the Purest Parents (2006, Awake! December, pp.16-17)

Salt also became a symbol of stability and permanence. Therefore, in the Bible a binding covenant was called “a covenant of salt,” the parties often eating a meal together, with salt, to seal it. (Numbers 18:19)

Interesting Historical Facts

Throughout history, salt (sodium chloride) has been such a precious commodity that wars were even fought over it. One of the contributing causes of the French Revolution was the high tax on salt imposed by Louis XVI. Salt was also used as a valuable medium of exchange. Moorish merchants traded salt for gold, gram for gram, and some central African tribes used slabs of rock salt as money. The English word “salary” comes from the Latin salarium (from sal, salt), referring to the early Roman soldier’s wages, part of which was an allowance of salt. The Greeks paid for slaves with salt, giving rise to the expression “not worth his salt.”

From early times man learned to extract salt from natural brines, seawater, and rock salt. An ancient Chinese treatise on pharmacology deals with more than 40 kinds of salt and describes two methods of extracting salt that are amazingly similar to those used today. For instance, solar energy is used to extract salt from seawater at the largest solar saltworks in the world, which is located on the shores of the Bahía Sebastián Vizcaíno in Baja California Sur, Mexico.

Interestingly, it has been estimated that if all the oceans in the world were completely dried up, “they would yield at least 4.5 million cubic miles [19 million cubic km] of rock salt, or about 14.5 times the bulk of the entire continent of Europe above the high-water mark,” according to the Encyclopædia Britannica. ~excerpted Salt a Precious Commodity (2002, Awake! June, pp. 14-15)

When You get rid of all salt? What taste is left?

blah, blah, blah!!!

WHAT I AM ?..

s~w~i~m~m~i~n~g in salt…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………😉